3 Viqarunnisa teachers responsible for Aritree’s suicide: Probe body

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Wednesday said the probe body, formed by his ministry, has found three teachers of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College responsible for the suicide of Aritree Adhikari.

The minister came up with the disclosure while briefing journalists at his Secretariat office.

Aritree Adhikari, a Class-IX student, committed suicide at their Shantinagar residence in the city on Monday after allegedly being rebuked by the teachers for using mobile phone during examination.

On Tuesday, the Education Ministry formed the three-member probe committee led by Prof Mohammad Yusuf, director of Dhaka Regional Education office, to submit its report within three days.

However, the committee has finalised its report working over day and night, the minister said.

“The probe body has found that three teachers had threatened the victim’s parents and behaved with them rudely when they came to meet them,” he said.

Aritee could not tolerate the humiliation of her parents and eventually committed suicide, the minister added.

“We’ve recommended the managing committee of the school to suspend the three accused teachers and decided to cancel the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) of the three teachers,” said Nahid adding that the decision of cancellation of the MPO has already come into effect.

“We’ve also recommended the managing committee to take necessary administrative steps and other legal steps necessary.”

The minister said the committee has also identified various irregularities in the institute, including in its admission process and coaching business.

“These irregularities have been going on for years. The school authorities have opened additional sections in each class and new branch without taking necessary approval. Even, complaints of taking around Tk 10 lakh for admission of a single student has been raised against the school authorities,” the minister added.unb